UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000466
SIPDISSIPDIS
INL/FO FOR DAS MCCAMPBELL; INL/LP FOR AMARTIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ESKCRMPREL
SUBJECT: DAS MCCAMPBELL LEADS U.S. DELEGATION TO IV ANNUAL
TRANSNATIONAL GANG CONVENTION
Â¶1. Summary: INL Deputy Assistant Secretary Christy
McCampbell led the U.S. delegation attending the 4th Annual
International Anti-Gang Convention April 8-10, 2008 in
Salinitas, El Salvador. DAS McCampbell took advantage of
this highly public forum to explain key elements of the
proposed Merida Initiative that will impact Central America
and to reinforce the U.S. commitment to multilateral and
bilateral cooperation in combating transnational gang
activity. End summary.
Â¶2. On April 8th DAS McCampbell attended the opening ceremony
of the 4th Anti-Gang Convention. She joined Minister of
Public Security and Justice Rene Figueroa and other
distinguished guests at the head table and, in her remarks,
emphasized U.S. government support for public security
initiatives throughout the region. Later in the day, DAS
McCampbell again addressed the audience, this time offering a
concise explanation of the purpose and potential impact of
the Merida Initiative.
Â¶3. On April 9th, DAS McCampbell traveled to San Salvador to
attend several USAID-sponsored gang prevention events. The
first was a roundtable of Salvadoran government and private
sector NGO officials involved in various anti-gang and
violence reduction programs. Each of the representatives
shared their experiences and explained the basic objectives
and challenges they face in their programs. At the
conclusion, DAS McCampbell congratulated the participants on
the comprehensive scope of their efforts, and reinforced U.S.
support for prevention programs throughout the region. The
subsequent event was a site visit to the Don Bosco Industrial
Park, where a faith-based NGO conducts rehabilitation and
reinsertion programs for youthful offenders and ex-gang
members. The Director, Father Jose Maria Moratalla Escudero,
gave a tour of the facility and provided a fascinating
overview of "lessons learned" in terms of rehabilitation of
former gang members. The final event of the day was a
reception for the inauguration of "Alianza Joven Regional"
(i.e. Regional Youth Alliance), a joint USAID/Central
American Integration System (SICA) prevention program. In a
concluding press conference chaired by National Civilian
Police (PNC) Director Francisco Rovira, DAS McCampbell
congratulated the PNC and GOES for organizing four successful
annual anti-gang conventions, and reiterated U.S. support for
Salvadoran and regional prevention programs.
Â¶4. On April 10, DAS McCampbell attended the closing ceremony
of the Fourth Annual Anti-Gang Convention and participated in
a joint press conference along with Vice-Minister Of Public
Security Astor Escalante and PNC Director General Francisco
Rovira. DAS McCampbell, along with the GOES officials,
summarized conference accomplishments and again highlighted
their hopes for the pending Merida Initiative.
Â¶5. Comment: DAS McCampbell's participation in the anti-gang
convention and USAID prevention events generated publicity
for U.S. efforts to improve public security in the region,
and at the same time reinforced U.S. commitment to democratic
policing and governance in El Salvador. Her presence also
enabled the USG to personally engage high-level GOES law
enforcement and security officials on the importance of
bilateral and regional cooperation in the fight against
transnational crime. End comment.
BUTLER